5.1.1 Define species, habitat, population, community, ecosystem and ecology.

5.1.2 Distinguish between autotroph and heterotroph.

Habitat
The environment in which a species normally lives
Ecosystem
A community & its abiotic environment
Community
A group of populations living and interacting together in the same
area.
Population
Group of organisms of the same species living within the same area
at a particular time
Niche
Role of an organism within its habitat
Species
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile
offspring.
Abiotic Factors
Non living, physical factors affecting survival
Biotic Factors
Living factors affecting survival
Heterotroph
Gains energy by consuming organic molecules from other organisms
Autotroph
Creates its own energy from non-living resources
Saprotroph
Lives on or in decaying organic matter, uses extracellular enzymes to
digest, consume & absorb decaying matter
Detritivore
Ingests non-living organic matter before digestion
Consumer
Ingests living/ recently killed organic matter
5.1.3 Distinguish between consumers, detritivores and saprotrophs.
5.1.4 Describe what is meant by a food chain, giving three examples, each with at
least three linkages (four organisms).
Shows energy flow from one species to another

5.1.5 Describe what is meant by a food web.

Shows energy flow within an ecosystem

5.1.6 Define trophic level.

An organisms trophic level is its position in the food chain, e.g. producer, primary consumer,
secondary consumer, tertiary consumer.

5.1.9 State that light is the initial energy source for almost all communities
5.1.11

State that energy transformations are never 100% efficient.

5.1.10

Explain the energy flow in a food chain.

5.1.12

Explain reasons for the shape of pyramids of energy.

5.1.13
Explain that energy enters and leaves ecosystems, but nutrients must
be recycled.
5.1.14
State that saprotrophic bacteria and fungi (decomposers) recycle
nutrients.
Energy is lost, while nutrients are recycled
Never 100% efficient energy lost through heat during cell respiration, faecal matter,
tissue loss & death
Energy is initially supplied by the sun flows through tropic levels
Nutrients are recycled finite resource
Nutrients go from environment organisms environment
Saprophytes & fungi recycle nutrients

5.2.1 Draw and label a diagram of the carbon cycle to show the processes
involved.

5.2.3

Explain the relationship between rises in concentrations of atmospheric

carbon dioxide, methane and oxides of nitrogen and the enhanced
greenhouse effect.

1. The incoming radiation from the sun is short wave ultraviolet and visible radiation.
2. Some of this radiation is absorbed by the Earths atmosphere.
3. Some of the radiation is reflected back into space by the Earths surface.
4. The radiation which is reflected back into space is infrared radiation and has a longer
wavelength.
5. The greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb some of this infrared radiation and rereflect it back towards the earth.
6. This causes the green house effect and results in an increase in average mean
temperatures on earth.
7. A rise in greenhouse gases results in an increase of the green house effect which can
be disastrous for the planet.
Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, tropospheric ozone, water vapour,
methane, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and volatile organic molecules.
Causes & Effects of the Greenhouse effect
Causes

Deforestation less photosynthesis occurs more carbon dioxide & less oxygen
Combustion of fossil fuels carbon dioxide released into atmosphere
Cattle Production Increased methane output
Use of Chlorine Fluorocarbons

Effects

Glacial melt in the arctic rising sea levels

Climate change some organisms unable to survive loss of biodiversity
Extended iceless periods more time for saprotrophs to break down organic matter
more CO2
Season changes Migratory behaviour changes
Lowland flooding

5.2.4 Outline the precautionary principle.

5.2.5 Evaluate the precautionary principle as a justification for strong action in
response to the threats posed by the enhanced greenhouse effect
When an activity raises threats of harm, measures should be taken, regardless of whether a
causal relationship has been confirmed.
Applies to global warming consequences too catastrophic & widespread to be ignored.
Strong evidence suggests global warming is evident.
5.2.6

5.3.2
5.3.3

Outline the consequences of a global temperature rise on arctic ecosystems.

Loss of ice habitats extensive flooding of lowlands
Increased decay of detritus by micro-organisms
Loss of glacial habitat
Change in biodiversity wider flora, appearance of small mammals & increase in
associated parasites
Increase in conifers boreal forests formed heat energy absorbed further glacial
melt
Increased predation by expanded vertebrate populations

Draw and label a graph showing a sigmoid (S-shaped) population growth curve.
Explain the reasons for the exponential growth phase, the plateau phase and the transitional phase
between these two phases.

Lag Phase
Individuals are few and widely dispersed, must adapt to conditions. Natality is slow
population growth is slow.
Exponential Growth Phase
Population grows at its biotic potential. Growth is not limited by biotic factors Natality >
Mortality
Transitional Phase
Growth slows as natality but natality > mortality. Biotic factors begin to affect survival
Plateau Phase
N+I=M+E
Population size is maintained constant as the population reaches its carrying capacity (k).
5.3.4 List three factors that set limits to population increase.

Abiotic

Natural disasters e.g. earthquakes,

flooding
Air
Water
Light

Wind
Soil
pH
Temperature
Salinity
Humidity

Biotic

Competition (food, space, breeding partners)

Predation
Symbiosis ( Mutualism & Parasitism)
Disease/ Waste

5.3.1

Outline how population size is affected by natality, immigration, mortality and emigration.

Predator/ prey relationship producers prey predators prey prey predators

producers
Unpredictability of abiotic factors
N , Population when N > M (or v.v.)
Mobile members of population I Population when I > E (or v.v.)

5.5.1 Outline the binomial system of

nomenclature.

Homo sapiens Capitalised genus name, followed by species name, in italics or

underlined (printed or handwritten).

5.5.2

List seven levels in the hierarchy of taxa kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and
species - using an example from two different kingdoms for each level.

Modern Day Humans:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Homo
Species: Sapiens

Strawberries:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Eudicots
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Rosoidiae
Species: ananassa

5.5.3 Distinguish between the following phyla of plants, using simple external recognition features:
bryophyta, filicinophyta, coniferophyta and angiospermophyta.

Bryophytes

Non-vascular - no xylem/ phloem.

No roots rhizoid instead.
Simple leaves & stems
Produce spores stored inside a capsule at the end of a stalk

Filicinophytes

Vascular.
Non woody stems
Pinnate leaves curled in a bud
Spores are produced in sporangia, usually on the underside of the leaves.

Angiosperms

Vascular
Flowers & fruit, seeds usually inside fruit
Seeds are produced from ovules inside the ovaries - part of the flower.
Fruits develop from the ovaries and disperse seeds.

Coniferophyta

Vascular
Woody
Needle leaves
Produces cones with seeds inside, relies on wind

5.5.4

Distinguish between the following phyla of animals, using simple external recognition
features: porifera, cnidaria, platyhelminthes, annelida, mollusca and arthropoda.

Porifera

No major structure cells arranged in sac-like distribution around a central gastric

cavity.
Attached to a surface.
Mostly aquatic

Cnidaria

Aquatic, radially symmetrical.

Mouth but no anus
Body cavity is a single hole.
Body wall is an endoderm, mesoglea & ectoderm.
Ectoderm has stinging cells, esp. on tentacles.
Nerve net in mesoglea.

Platyhelminthes

Flat, unsegmented
Tripoblastic organisation.
No cavity in middle
Mouth & gut but no anus.

Flame cells for excretion.

No circulatory system.

Annelidia

Bilaterally symmetrical
Mouth & anus
Segmented worms
Closed circulatory system
Cuticle of collagen

Mollusca

Soft, flexible, show little segmentation

Consists of a head, flattened muscular foot & a mantle covered by a shell.
Gills/ lungs for gas exchange & well developed blood circulation.
Mouth & anus

Arthropoda

Segmented bodies
Hard chitin exoskeleton with jointed limbs.
Open blood circulation haemocoel cavity & tubular heart.
Ventral nerve cord with nerves in each segment